Sana Irshad Mattoo has been put on the no fly list by the Jammu and Kashmir Police. (file)
Washington:
A State Department official said the United States is aware of reports of Pulitzer-winning Kashmiri journalist Sana Irshad Mattoo allegedly being barred from traveling to the country.
Sana Mattoo on Tuesday said that she was stopped from going to the US at Delhi’s IGI airport to receive the prestigious award.
“We are aware of reports that Ms Mattoo is being barred from traveling to the US and we are closely monitoring these developments,” State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedanta Patel told reporters at her daily news conference.
“We are committed to supporting freedom of the press. And as the secretary noted, a shared commitment to democratic values, including respect for freedom of the press, is the cornerstone of the US-India relationship,” he said.
Responding to a question, Patel said, “But I don’t have any other details to present… We are keeping a close watch on it.”
Mattoo, a freelance photojournalist, was part of a Reuters team that won the Pulitzer Prize for Feature Photography for its coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic in India.
In a statement, the Committee to Protect Journalists urged the Indian authorities to allow Mattoo to travel to the US to attend the Pulitzer Prize ceremony.
CPJ’s Asia program Beh Lih Yee said, “There is no reason why Kashmiri journalist Sana Irshad Mattoo, who had all the correct travel documents and who has won the Pulitzer (one of the most prestigious journalism awards), was prevented from traveling abroad. Should have gone.” Coordinator in Frankfurt, Germany.
“This decision is arbitrary and excessive. Indian authorities must immediately stop all forms of harassment and intimidation against journalists covering the situation in Kashmir,” Beh said.